ALIAS ? Peter Parker?

07. A Little Party Never Killed Anything But My Self-Esteem

At first, it isn't too bad, the streets are peaceful and Jackie sips the water I brought, perking up a bit. Then a shiny silver car slows down next to us, matching our pace. My heart slams in my rib cage, my fingers charge up, but we keep on walking. The window rolls down but I focus on the sidewalk ahead of us. I swear to the heavens if some creep even approaches us, I'll be a much different vigilante than murder-free Batman.

"Foster." The voice says and I almost groan. I trudge on. "Foster, I know you can hear me."

Don't say anything. Look down, but keep him your peripheral. "You're not walking all the way home with her on your shoulder."

"It's dangerous, Foster." 

"Fine, then I'll drive next to you the whole time." He keeps his word, for five minutes I grimace in sweat as he drives next to me.

Jackie's heel brakes and all her weight is on me. "Ouch."

Fuck me. I stop walking and he stops his car. Annoyed, I wait for him to unlock his car. I open the door for the backseat and roll up both Jackie and I's jacket into a ball, then gently rest Jackie on it. Her head elevated by the faux pillow, she sprawls over both seats.

"Is that, that asshole?" She says, eyes barely open. Her intoxicated is equally as straight forward as her sober.

I shoot Jonathan a glance. "Yeah."

I sit on the passenger seat, arms crossed, and to my chest. My eyes darting between my best friend and bully. He's not driving too fast, if it comes to it, I could taser him, the wreck would be minor. Jonathan lightly drums on the steering wheel, occasionally shooting glances at me. 

"Were you really willing to walk all night just not stay in a car with me?" I don't say anything, but he takes it as a yes. He snorts. "Jeez, have you ever seen Law & Order?"

I have enough energy in me to know better than talk back in this situation. It's quiet for a bit, though it's tense with curiosity. His dark eyes move between me and the street, it's the most nervous I've ever seen him. "I'm not going to tell anyone, I know that's why you offered the ride anyway."

"Tell what?" Jackie pipes up, she's rolled over to her side, hair spilling over her face and I hope she waits to get home before she throws up... On second thought, I don't. Jackie's eyes droop more and more, and I hand her back the water bottle.

"Nothing, Jackie."

She points a wobbly finger at Jonathan, who glances at her through the rearview mirror. "What's it you call him? Trust-fund prick?"

"Drink more water, we're almost there," I say quickly, but a self-assured smirk is on his face. Of course, he'd love being known as anything. 

"Why not? You'd be able to get your revenge. I'd do it."

There are few questions heavy on my tongue, but I keep my mouth closed. "If I wanted to get revenge, telling everyone you have a better game than I do wouldn't be that helpful." The corner of his mouth perks.

"Nobody knows." A moment passes and he swallows thickly. "Not even Flash."

"Okay," I say, unsure whether or not I should try and comfort him. We pass under a street light illuminating a bruise on his cheek, of course.

He nods, tight-lipped. "I'm... sorry, for the... punching... and saying the thing about-"

"It's fine." My shoulders tense and my hair frizzed up. Though there is a mountain of inquiries, I didn't want to go through it. I see a familiar fire hydrant and begin unbuckling my seatbelt. It's the same neighborhood, but a different street. "Pull over here."

He does as he's told and pulls up next to a house covered in garden nomes. I jump out of the car and quickly begin pulling Jackie out. "That's not your house is it?"

"Nope."

"Foster." I give him a look as I pull Jackie out, she slowly slugs upward like jello. "Say I gave you ride and I'll kill you."

Yanking on Jackie for a final time, she wraps herself around my shoulders. I close the back door. "You gave me a ride?"

With that, he peels away from the curb, leaving Jackie and me one street away from her house. Then Jackie throws up on my shoes. Fan-fucking-tastic.

***

After eating both plates of Chilaquiles her dad left for us, I immediately regretted the decision as I held up Jackie's hair. Thankfully, her parents left before she woke up, so there was no need to explain the already implied insobriety of their daughter.

Her vomiting and the small golden cross on her neck hitting the toilet seat fills up the air between groans. The smell is repulsive, but I stay next to the toilet on a little chair I pulled up. Tangle piece of her long dark hair in one hand and my phone in the other, I wait for her to finish.

"I'm never drinking again." She groans, her head pressed on her arm that buffers her face and the toilet seat. "Owie."

"I'm never watching you drink again." My nose wrinkles as she goes through another round. A ping comes from my phone, which causes Jackie's brows to furrow in pain. "Alex is picking me up in a few minutes, are you good?"

"Aside from the raging hangover, fucking dandy." She gives me a sloppy smile, bit of vomit on her lip. Suppressing my gag reflex, I pat her gently on the head unsure of what to do. "I hate beer pong."

"I know."

***

"How's the princess?" Alex asks as soon as I take my spot on the passenger side, leaning a bony arm on the bottom of his window. He's parked on the usual spot on the Gutierrez's curb, the radio is turned down to a soft level.

"Throwing up her brains." I put on my seat belt with more force than necessary. Then I lean forward to rest my head on the dashboard. The cool feeling spread on my forehead, I'm tired as hell.

"I'm surprised she has any."

Turning my head slightly to glare I him, I say, "You're lucky you have a car."

"Damn right." He switches gears and smiles, then a second later he glances down at my feet. "Where are your shoes?"

A/N Hey beautifuls, another chapter, another trauma. I'd also like to thank cIeopatras the kick-ass cover.  If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to let me know.